Alcoholism refers to chronic consumption of alcoholic beverages, or developing a dependence on alcohol to such an extent that it impairs control over drinking, often leading to a loss of control over one’s life. Alcoholism does not comprise a single factor, rather a result of numerous genetic, psychological, environmental, and social factors.

Some people view alcohol as a way of relieving themselves from quotidian distress. They feel that it helps them deal with the various stressors of life, such as work pressure, academic issues, relationship hassles, financial stress, etc. Whereas, there are many who drink to deal with a subtle peer pressure, a sense of inadequacy driving them to project themselves as ‘in vogue’ and not the odd one out. Another reason people drink alcohol is to satiate their curiosity.

However, as people begin to engage in heavy or chronic drinking to alleviate stress, they are actually inviting trouble, adding to a long list of menaces that ensue. For example, a person who had developed a habit of seeking alcohol for every petty issue will brace for a long-standing struggle with problem drinking, and will battle with severer side effects.

Potential triggers for problem drinking

Although there are myriad factors associated with one’s disposition to alcohol, a new study tried to unearth the most common reasons that drive people into alcoholism. The study revealed that the moods play a key role in triggering people with preexisting alcohol addiction.

Lead analyst Dr. Victor Karpyak, a psychiatrist based in Minnesota, examined 156 women and 287 men with alcohol use disorder (AUD) for three months. He evaluated the mental state of the participants and connected their drinking patterns with negative and positive emotional states.

The study found that the male participants with an existing alcohol addiction had a greater propensity to consume alcoholic beverages on a regular basis as compared to the females. However, in both the genders, amount of alcohol consumed by them depended on their immediate moods. According to Karpyak, the most critical finding of the study is that the immediate negative moods and the prevalence or lifetime history of major depressive disorders have opposite effects on alcohol, for which he emphasized on the need to isolate those attributes in the research or evaluation of study results.

The study found that the consumption of alcohol was not significantly associated with a history of anxiety or any other substance use disorder. Rather, male respondents with a history of clinical depression, drank less often and had fewer alcoholic beverages, as compared to those without any history of depression. The researchers also found that negative states of mood such as depression, anxiety, anger, frustration, etc., as well as positive mood such as happiness are some of the common triggers for alcohol use among problem drinkers as well as heavy drinkers or people who do not have alcohol-related problems.

Karpyak called for more precision in diagnosing mood states versus mood and anxiety disorders in individuals who struggle with alcoholism. These are co-occurring conditions, which can affect alcohol consumption. He stated that knowing the possible triggers would be crucial in diagnosing and recommending treatments for patients with alcoholism.

Detoxification – first step to combating addiction

Abusing or developing dependence to any form of addictive substances, whether it is alcohol or any other drugs, can be ominous. Addiction can wreak havoc to one’s life, destroy relationships, create work-life issues, give birth to a litany of health problems like diseases of heart, liver, and kidney, various types of cancers, as well as increased risk for HIV infection and unwanted pregnancies. However, it is possible to squash any form of addiction with treatment.

Detoxification is crucial to recovery as it flushes out the unwanted toxins from the body. To know more about the best detox programs offered by the drug treatment centers in California, contact the California Detox Helpline. Call our 24/7 helpline number 855-780-2495 or chat online with our treatment advisors who would be happy to assist you by giving complete information about the best California detox centers.

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The California Detox Helpline is a free resource for those looking for help through effective rapid detox. We provide assistance in helping people find the appropriate retreat center to fit their needs.